Atheist Nexus2017-08-18T05:59:44ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennetthttp://api.ning.com:80/files/kZzo8PgK6neQN4AfxW4EG8lio8WXn0XSgqGXhrjLcnz6wFQSa-7LXzOI*ItARRbbgifycjdTrRuWIx0iU2Ci9jHlOgwyAvvH/genericprofilepicture.png?width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://atheistnexus.org/group/atheistailurophiles/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=1wufhb1cirpca&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMunchkin – My Bestest Buddytag:atheistnexus.org,2017-02-16:2182797:Topic:27361652017-02-16T16:36:02.515ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p>It was sometime in 1995. I had just gotten back from a field service trip to Canada. <i>I</i> made it back; my baggage hadn’t, and I was none too pleased about that. One of the perils of traveling for a living. Anyhow, I got home to find Samantha, my seven-year-old daughter <i>very</i> excited … and a tiny bundle of butterscotch fur on the sofa!<br></br> <br></br> “Daddy, Daddy, we got a KITTY!” she went on, clearly as pleased as she was thrilled with her new acquisition. Apparently, someone…</p>
<p>It was sometime in 1995. I had just gotten back from a field service trip to Canada. <i>I</i> made it back; my baggage hadn’t, and I was none too pleased about that. One of the perils of traveling for a living. Anyhow, I got home to find Samantha, my seven-year-old daughter <i>very</i> excited … and a tiny bundle of butterscotch fur on the sofa!<br/> <br/> “Daddy, Daddy, we got a KITTY!” she went on, clearly as pleased as she was thrilled with her new acquisition. Apparently, someone down the street had kittens for sale, a fact lit on by my daughter and subsequently … here he was! I had a look at our new arrival. Tiny he was; I could hold him with one hand and have room left over in my palm. He couldn’t have been more than two months old, probably not that much. Even with the exhaustion of the day’s trip and problem with baggage, I found that I was pleased with our new resident.<br/> <br/> Still, first on the agenda for the near future was a trip to the vet for this little fellow. I had a friend I used to bowl with who was a veterinarian who I figured was as good as any to scope out our new-found friend's medical condition. Next day after work, I wrapped took our as-yet-unnamed pet in a towel and took him to my friend for a look-over. Initially, all went well until the doc took our new friend’s temperature and noted a fever.<br/> <br/> “Could be a sign of feline leukemia,” he stated, matter-of-factly. “We need to test for it.” My heart sunk. Feline leukemia is badly debilitating in cats and requires a lot of attention (and money!) to treat, and I’ve heard more than one comment about the preferability to simply put the suffering animal down. I hoped fervently that would not be the case, not for the sake of my daughter. Thankfully, the test came back negative. Seems our kitten had a slight cut on one paw, enough to cause the fever. Doc gave him his shots, including one for feline leukemia, and pronounced him fit to go home.<br/> <br/> As for a name for him, I wrestled with a few. He was tabby-striped like a Tiger and a friend of mine had once had a Tiger-kitty. Still, I couldn’t get over how small our new friend was, and with that as a basis, our new friend became “Munchkin.”<br/> <br/> Munchkin quickly became a very beloved part of the household. He knew his name, or at least responded to it more often than not. Munch very much enjoyed being brushed and occasionally “asked” me to brush him. I would tell him pointedly, “If you’re gonna be brushed, you gotta flop!” I’d repeat that to him once or twice, whereupon … FLOP! and I would go after him with the brush. I would swear that I became his person, too, as he would actively seek out my lap when I was seated and on occasion actually come when he was called (very un-cat-like!).<br/> <br/> Munch had one behavior, though, which floors me to this day. Occasionally when I picked him up, he and I would go nose to nose. Most cats don’t seem to like to do this, but Munch never seemed to have a problem with it. Indeed, he would take it one step further. Not every time but sometimes, he would munch my nose. Not lick it, not bite it, but just munch it with his mouth, a gentle and amazing gesture which meant what, I really don’t know. Still, if there were ever something that truly sealed the deal between me and Munchkin, that was it.<br/> <br/> Our family did its share of changes, with Samantha going off to school and my first wife and I divorcing, but Munch seemed to cruise through it reasonably well. Then I got the email note in June of 2013 that let me know that Munchkin’s buddy, Keiko had been put to sleep after a long illness. We had gotten Keiko a year after Munchkin joined our family and those two got along famously, practically from the get-go. I couldn’t help but think that this would be a blow to my aging feline friend, whose own health had been flagging over the past couple of years. In fact, it was roughly half a year later in January of 2014 that I got another note, letting me know that our wonderful orange fur-ball had gone as well.<br/> <br/> There have been new times, a new marriage and new kitties whom I dote on and enjoy and love. For all of that, Munchkin still has a very special place in my heart and always will. He was a sweet cat and my bestest buddy … and I love him to pieces.<br/><br/><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/EOmcU2hRkGoE9NmenF0ZLJOrtNVlPwd9jHqv2s0BiUQZu*d8m*V2nVbVwdtteVd4/MUNCH02.JPG" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/EOmcU2hRkGoE9NmenF0ZLJOrtNVlPwd9jHqv2s0BiUQZu*d8m*V2nVbVwdtteVd4/MUNCH02.JPG?width=500" class="align-full" width="500"/></a></p> Life in Trump’s America Just Got Worse for Your Pet (Keith Olbermann)tag:atheistnexus.org,2017-02-10:2182797:Topic:27348482017-02-10T00:26:30.997ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p>I'll bet you thought that this is the ONE group on Atheist Nexus where you would never expect to hear any mention of the 45th president of the United States. Well ... I genuinely hate to burst your bubble but, considering the content of this latest piece by Keith Olbermann, I HAD to post this here.<br></br><br></br>Because I've had dogs and I've had cats and I've loved them all ... and what Donnie and his idiot-children are doing here is just unconscionable, never mind plainly…</p>
<p>I'll bet you thought that this is the ONE group on Atheist Nexus where you would never expect to hear any mention of the 45th president of the United States. Well ... I genuinely hate to burst your bubble but, considering the content of this latest piece by Keith Olbermann, I HAD to post this here.<br/><br/>Because I've had dogs and I've had cats and I've loved them all ... and what Donnie and his idiot-children are doing here is just unconscionable, never mind plainly heartless.<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzWppkh4JJY?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<br/><br/>Resist ... Peace.</p> Cat Food Recalltag:atheistnexus.org,2017-01-07:2182797:Topic:27295932017-01-07T04:19:31.179ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/news/a42184/9lives-cat-food-recall/" target="_blank">9Lives Cat Food and Two Other Brands Recalled Due to Vitamin B1 Deficiency</a></p>
<blockquote><p>... <span> Certain cans of 9Lives, EverPet and Special Kitty food are being recalled because they don't have enough thiamine (or Vitamin B1), ...</span></p>
<p class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text">The symptoms to look out for are decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss.…</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/news/a42184/9lives-cat-food-recall/" target="_blank">9Lives Cat Food and Two Other Brands Recalled Due to Vitamin B1 Deficiency</a></p>
<blockquote><p>... <span> Certain cans of 9Lives, EverPet and Special Kitty food are being recalled because they don't have enough thiamine (or Vitamin B1), ...</span></p>
<p class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text">The symptoms to look out for are decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. If it gets really bad, it can mess with your cat's brain, and cause their neck to droop (called ventroflexion), wobbly walking, circling, falling and seizures. The second you notice any of these symptoms, you should call your veterinarian.</p>
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<p class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text">Luckily, thiamine deficiency is treatable, and they haven't received any reports of illness yet. They discovered the issue during a review of production records...</p>
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<p class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text"><a href="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/17/01/1483546920-screen-shot-2017-01-04-at-112145-am.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/17/01/1483546920-screen-shot-2017-01-04-at-112145-am.png" class="align-center"/></a></p> The never ending battletag:atheistnexus.org,2016-11-05:2182797:Topic:27170572016-11-05T03:11:53.481ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><a href="https://openparachute.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/the-never-ending-battle/" style="font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">The never ending battle</a></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4">Creation researchers mine scientific studies to buttress “creation science” with an aim to support parents, teachers, and communities that teach creation-based science. Creation scientists actively support evangelical and fundamentalist christians who want religious superstitions and myths to be taught at all…</span></p>
<p><a href="https://openparachute.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/the-never-ending-battle/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14pt;">The never ending battle</a></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4">Creation researchers mine scientific studies to buttress “creation science” with an aim to support parents, teachers, and communities that teach creation-based science. Creation scientists actively support evangelical and fundamentalist christians who want religious superstitions and myths to be taught at all level of education and in all science classes. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/JQub9rVbYA264X3u8m-FgH8j7fUKD3QaWwIrFuHPkjxsx2*daGmVG1FsUbXKIIkSkXxTT1pEkbLpfJBO0HhHohKhaW0M3ttn/creationistcat.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/JQub9rVbYA264X3u8m-FgH8j7fUKD3QaWwIrFuHPkjxsx2*daGmVG1FsUbXKIIkSkXxTT1pEkbLpfJBO0HhHohKhaW0M3ttn/creationistcat.jpg?width=300" width="300" class="align-left"/></a></p> Signs Your Cat Is In Paintag:atheistnexus.org,2016-03-01:2182797:Topic:26730032016-03-01T04:40:56.953ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160226085759.htm" target="_blank">New research reveals 25 signs your cat could be in pain</a></p>
<p><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0150040#pone-0150040-t001" target="_blank">Behavioural Signs of Pain in Cats: An Expert Consensus</a> [The academic paper]</p>
<p><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0150040" target="_blank">Link to the original paper's chart…</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160226085759.htm" target="_blank">New research reveals 25 signs your cat could be in pain</a></p>
<p><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0150040#pone-0150040-t001" target="_blank">Behavioural Signs of Pain in Cats: An Expert Consensus</a> [The academic paper]</p>
<p><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0150040" target="_blank">Link to the original paper's chart 1</a> [easier to read than below]</p>
<p><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0150040#pone-0150040-t001" target="_blank">Link to chart 2</a> [easier to read, not shown]</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure/image?size=large&amp;id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0150040.t001"><img class="align-center" src="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure/image?size=large&amp;id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0150040.t001&amp;width=450" width="450"/></a></p> Fancy Feast and slaverytag:atheistnexus.org,2015-08-31:2182797:Topic:26408052015-08-31T01:15:58.196ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><a href="http://time.com/4014953/nestle-slave-fish-fancy-feast/" target="_blank">Lawsuit Accuses Nestlé of Using Slave-Caught Fish in Fancy Feast</a></p>
<blockquote><p>A class-action lawsuit filed by California residents claims that Nestlé purchases fish from a Thai supplier known to use <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-27/nestle-accused-of-putting-fish-from-slave-labor-in-cat-food">slave labor</a>—and uses that fish in Fancy Feast cat food.</p>
<p>Their lawyer says…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://time.com/4014953/nestle-slave-fish-fancy-feast/" target="_blank">Lawsuit Accuses Nestlé of Using Slave-Caught Fish in Fancy Feast</a></p>
<blockquote><p>A class-action lawsuit filed by California residents claims that Nestlé purchases fish from a Thai supplier known to use <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-27/nestle-accused-of-putting-fish-from-slave-labor-in-cat-food">slave labor</a>—and uses that fish in Fancy Feast cat food.</p>
<p>Their lawyer says that “By hiding this from public view, Nestlé has effectively tricked millions of consumers into supporting and encouraging slave labor on floating prisons.”</p>
<p>Nestlé would not comment specifically on the suit, but told Bloomberg that it was working with an NGO “to identify where and why forced labor and human rights abuses may be taking place” in the region, and that forced labor “has no place in our supply chain.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/nestle-fancy-feast.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=color&amp;w=1100"><img class="align-center" src="https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/nestle-fancy-feast.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=color&amp;w=1100&amp;width=300" width="300"/></a>We'll try some other brands on our fussy cats.</p> Cat videos are good for youtag:atheistnexus.org,2015-06-23:2182797:Topic:26138972015-06-23T15:26:23.699ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150616093357.htm" target="_blank">Not-so-guilty pleasure: Viewing cat videos boosts energy, positive emotions</a></p>
<p>Horray! Cat videos <em>are</em> good for us.</p>
<blockquote><p>If you get a warm, fuzzy feeling after watching cute cat videos online, the effect may be more profound than you think, according to research. The Internet phenomenon of watching cat videos, from Lil Bub to Grumpy Cat, does more than simply entertain; it…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150616093357.htm" target="_blank">Not-so-guilty pleasure: Viewing cat videos boosts energy, positive emotions</a></p>
<p>Horray! Cat videos <em>are</em> good for us.</p>
<blockquote><p>If you get a warm, fuzzy feeling after watching cute cat videos online, the effect may be more profound than you think, according to research. The Internet phenomenon of watching cat videos, from Lil Bub to Grumpy Cat, does more than simply entertain; it boosts viewers' energy and positive emotions and decreases negative feelings, investigators say.</p>
<p>... watching online cat videos ... it's one of the most popular uses of the Internet today,...</p>
<p>Cat videos had more views per video than any other category of YouTube content.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This article introduced me to Henri, Le Chat Noir. "... <i>Paw de Deux</i> won the "Golden Kitty Award" for "Best Cat Video On The Internet" at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Art_Center" title="Walker Art Center">Walker Art Center</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Cat_Video_Festival" title="Internet Cat Video Festival">Internet Cat Video Festival</a>."</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q34z5dCmC4M?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<p></p> Three men turn their home into a catified wonderlandtag:atheistnexus.org,2015-01-28:2182797:Topic:25408522015-01-28T06:11:26.665ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/okOVxfuSYPk?wmode=opaque" width="560"></iframe>
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<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/f5QbJIEIZ4yv5VPt-6FMZZPTz6yoHy-gxtZeJ6dd2hOsPYoSyahvN5XsgcUfUGc9PYg6nZFC802W6zUrMwNILGjVJf2uBjn0/eclectichomeofficewithcatwalks.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/f5QbJIEIZ4yv5VPt-6FMZZPTz6yoHy-gxtZeJ6dd2hOsPYoSyahvN5XsgcUfUGc9PYg6nZFC802W6zUrMwNILGjVJf2uBjn0/eclectichomeofficewithcatwalks.jpg?width=150" width="150"></img></a> Peter Cohen was inspired by Bob Walker and Frances Mooney's book <em><a href="http://www.thecatshouse.com/" target="_blank">The Cats' House</a></em>. After a remodel,…</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/okOVxfuSYPk?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/f5QbJIEIZ4yv5VPt-6FMZZPTz6yoHy-gxtZeJ6dd2hOsPYoSyahvN5XsgcUfUGc9PYg6nZFC802W6zUrMwNILGjVJf2uBjn0/eclectichomeofficewithcatwalks.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/f5QbJIEIZ4yv5VPt-6FMZZPTz6yoHy-gxtZeJ6dd2hOsPYoSyahvN5XsgcUfUGc9PYg6nZFC802W6zUrMwNILGjVJf2uBjn0/eclectichomeofficewithcatwalks.jpg?width=150" width="150"/></a>Peter Cohen was inspired by Bob Walker and Frances Mooney's book <em><a href="http://www.thecatshouse.com/" target="_blank">The Cats' House</a></em>. After a remodel, "I thought, ‘I’m a builder. I could do that.’"</p>
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<p>Plenty of pictures at these links:</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/35126310" target="_blank"><strong>Houzz TV: Watch These Rescued Cats Make a House Their Playland</strong></a><br/> Spirals, catwalks, tunnels and platforms create a superhighway inside this home in Southern California</p>
<p><a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/23029316" target="_blank"><strong>Incredible Home Catwalks Make for Purr-fectly Happy Felines</strong></a><br/> Walkways and tunnels custom built to the tune of about $35,000 keep a homeowner’s 18 cats on cloud nine (Houzz)</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2015/01/cats.html" target="_blank">From Towleroad</a>:</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/f5QbJIEIZ4xeLErPYSg7EFm9hv2xk117V08kzNDpHMaRXpAY7u-hQmgMsk*ECLTFcDyS6cEQ1FPeC25yT3sNcP5K-SXrjnTs/TowleroadPeterCohenandpartnersandcats.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/f5QbJIEIZ4xeLErPYSg7EFm9hv2xk117V08kzNDpHMaRXpAY7u-hQmgMsk*ECLTFcDyS6cEQ1FPeC25yT3sNcP5K-SXrjnTs/TowleroadPeterCohenandpartnersandcats.jpg" width="300"/></a>Peter Cohen, Manuel Flores, and Hiroyuki Furumoto have built an indoor playland for their 15 rescue cats which is unlike anything you've ever seen.</p>
<p>The playland consists of dozens of platforms, tunnels, nooks, spiraling ramps, and holes that look like a shark's gaping mouth on which the cats can scratch their backs. It even has closets with filtration systems and exhaust fans to hold the many litter boxes as well as constantly cleaning Roomba vacuums.</p>
<p></p> Why cats sprint out of the room for no apparant reason at alltag:atheistnexus.org,2015-01-15:2182797:Topic:25328262015-01-15T17:04:13.580ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IvOtUh8Avi8?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<p>Haha! Cat loaf.</p>
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<p>Haha! Cat loaf.</p> Sugarless gum kills petstag:atheistnexus.org,2014-11-11:2182797:Topic:25048772014-11-11T22:55:25.498ZPatriciahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/PatriciaBennett
<p><a href="http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/people-food-can-kill-your-pet?paging=off&amp;current_page=1" target="_blank">8 Things You Should Never Feed to Dogs and Cats</a></p>
<p>Most of us know not to let pets eat chocolate, but there's lots more pet poison in our food that we should know about.</p>
<ul>
<li>Xylitol (one of the more ubiquitous sweeteners in sugar-free products)</li>
<li>Avacado</li>
<li>Macademia nuts</li>
<li>Grapes and Raisins</li>
<li>Onions and…</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/people-food-can-kill-your-pet?paging=off&amp;current_page=1" target="_blank">8 Things You Should Never Feed to Dogs and Cats</a></p>
<p>Most of us know not to let pets eat chocolate, but there's lots more pet poison in our food that we should know about.</p>
<ul>
<li>Xylitol (one of the more ubiquitous sweeteners in sugar-free products)</li>
<li>Avacado</li>
<li>Macademia nuts</li>
<li>Grapes and Raisins</li>
<li>Onions and Garlic</li>
<li>Marijuana edibles</li>
<li>Chocolate</li>
<li>Yeast Dough</li>
<li>Lilies kill cats</li>
</ul>
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<p><a href="http://www.petremedycharts.com/Learning%20Center/Introduction%20to%20Herbs/LH%20Garlic/Garlic_for_pets.html" target="_blank">Some sites</a> even recommend garlic as a natural medicine for dogs! Onions and garlic destroy their red blood cells.</p>
<blockquote><p>All members of the allium family, which includes garlic, shallots and scallions, contain these compounds, which can wreak havoc on a pet’s red blood cells, if eaten in large enough amounts. Garlic tends to be much more toxic than the common onion. Also, garlic and onion powders, typical ingredients in many soups, baby food and meat sauces, can be quiet killers.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000000241/Images/Easter-lilies-toxic-cats.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000000241/Images/Easter-lilies-toxic-cats.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a><a href="http://www.hydeparkrotary.org/Stories" target="_blank">image source</a></p>